Invalid-bedstead



(No Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheet 1. 0. A. HOWE. INVALID BEDSTEAD. No. 426,669. Patented Apr. 29, 1890.

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OZIAL A. HOWE, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

INVALID-BEDSTEAD.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 426,669, dated April 29, 1890.

Application filed September 23, 1889- Serial No. 324,714- (No model.)

To all whom, it may concern.-

Be it known that I, OZIAL A. HOWE, a resident of Chicago, in the county of Cook and State of Illinois, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Invalid-Bedsteads; and I do hereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, that will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, and to the letters of reference marked thereon, which form a part of this specification.

Similar letters refer to similar parts in the several figures therein.

My invention relates to improvements in in valid-bedsteads; and it consists of the novel construction and combination of parts hereinafter described and subsequently claimed.

Figure l of the drawings is a side elevation of a bedstead having my improvement attached. Fig. 2 is a plan View of the same. Fig. 3 is a bottom plan view of the seat. Fig. 4 is a longitudinal section of the seat, taken on the broken line 4 4111 Fig. 3, and showing a vessel attached. Fig. 5 is a plan view of the Windlass detached. Fig. 6 is a view in perspective of one of the seat-supports. Fig. '7 is a perspective view of a socketfor holding a seat-rest.

A is the frame of an ordinary bedstead.

B is the bed-supporting frame, fulcrumed upon the bedstead by the pivot I, and provided with the oppositely placed seat-rest sockets S S, also with the hooks II II at or near its swinging end.

0 is that portion of the bedsupport which remains fixed. V

D is the Windlass, which is provided with the ratchets a a, fixed thereon, and square ends Z) I), also with pins d d. The Windlass has its bearings in the uprights G G, which may be secured to any convenient part of the bedstead at or near that end of the bedstead most remote from the swinging end of frame B, as upon posts 6 c. The uprights Gare also provided with the pawls g g, adapted to engage with the ratchets to prevent the windlass from turning backward.

The belts or straps are each secured at one end to the Windlass by the pin (Z, and at the other end to the swinging end of frame B by the hook H. It is evident, therefore, that by rotating the Windlass, which may be done by a wrench applied to either end in one direction, the frame B can be raised from a horizontal position (shown in Fig. 2) to a nearly Vertical one, (shown in Fig. 1,) the swinging end following the path indicated by the curved dotted line, and by means of the pawls and ratchets the frame B can be securely held at any desired angle between a horizontal and vertical position. After the frame is raised to the desired position, the detachable seat-rests R may be inserted in sockets S, one on each side of the frame, and a seat J, laid thereon, as shown in Fig. 1, the ends of the seats lying upon the rests and held thereon by cleats M M on the lower side of the seat.

WVhen it is desired to move the invalid from a reclining to a sitting position, it is only necessary, after adjusting the seat-rests and seat in place while the frame B is in a horizontal position, to raise the frame with the bed and invalid thereon by means of the windlass until the invalid settles down upon the seat in a sitting position. While in this position he not only secures rest by change of position, but the bedolothing can be easily removed and renovated. The position is also the one naturally assumed at stool. To render it more available for this purpose I have prepared a seat J with an aperture K, and the cleats n 01, adapted to support a vessel V by its flanges, which are adapted to slide upon the cleats, as shown in Fig. 4. The vessel can therefore be inserted-and removed while the invalid remains in a sitting position, thus enabling one person to easily assume the whole care of the invalid, however helpless.

There may be more than one set of sockets S, as shown, by which the invalid may be raised to different heights to accommodate the position of his feet when in a sitting position.

WVhen the invalid is in a reclining position, the seat-rests and seat can be removed.

The frame 0 serves to support the foot of the mattress or bed, and can be fixed to the frame A, or made detachable, as desired.

I am thus able, by means of my improved attachments, to easily and cheaply convert any bedstead into a convenient and useful invalid-bedstead.

I am aware that a frame has been pivoted to a bedstead in bearings or blocks above the upper edgeof the bedstead-frame, and that a support for the foot of the bed was provided in such construction. Said pivots were too high and located too near the head of the bed to permit the person to be raised suffi- -ciently for the purposes of the present improvement. In other old devices a firm support for the foot of the bed, like the frame 0, has been wanting. I locate my pivotal rod P below the upper edge of the frame and at points not nearer the head than the longitudinal center of the bed, and in connection with these features I provide a firm support for the foot of the bed about on a level with said pivots.

WVhat I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. The combination of the main frame of a bedstead, the bed supporting and elevating frame pivoted within the main frame below the top of the side bars thereof and between the longitudinal center and the foot of the bedstead and provided with a series of sockets, and a seat adapted to be supported at several points on the pivoted frame and means for raising and lowering the pivoted frame, substantially as described.

2. The combination of the main frame of a bedstead, the frame 0, for supporting the foot of the bed or mattress, the bed support ing and elevating frame pivoted within the main frame below the top of the side bars thereof and between their longitudinal center and the foot of the bedstead and provided with a series of sockets, and ajseat adapted to be supported at several points on the pivoted frame and means for raising and lowering the pivoted frame, substantially as de scribed.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand this 19th day of September, 1889.

OZI'AL 'A. HOWE. Witnesses: V

FRANK H. HOLDEN, .WILBUR H. FrroH. 

